A Victorian private cover from Montagu William Lowry Corry (1838–1903), Benjamin Disraeli’s private secretary and one of his closest and most trusted associates, to Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881) during his tenure as Chancellor of the Exchequer. The front is manuscript-addressed: “The Rt. Honble. The Chancellor of the Exchequer 11 Downing Street” and prominently marked “Private.” At the lower left appears Montagu Corry’s abbreviated autograph signature, also identified in the earlier documentation accompanying the item as “M Corry.” Corry served as Disraeli’s private secretary from 1866 until Disraeli’s death in 1881, becoming one of his closest confidants and trusted associates. In 1880, on Disraeli’s recommendation, Corry was raised to the peerage as Baron Rowton. The combination of the address to Disraeli specifically as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Corry’s service as his private secretary beginning in 1866 allows the cover to be relatively closely dated to 1866–1868, Disraeli’s third and final period as Chancellor of the Exchequer under Lord Derby. The envelope has a black border characteristic of Victorian mourning stationery. The reverse bears a black seal prominently incorporating an anchor motif. Of particular interest, Montagu Corry’s father, Henry Thomas Lowry-Corry (1803–1873), served as First Lord of the Admiralty from 1867, overlapping with part of the probable date range of this cover. The maritime device may therefore possibly have some association with the Admiralty or the Corry family; however, the seal itself has not been conclusively identified, and there is presently no documentary evidence establishing that the cover originated from the Admiralty. An interesting Victorian autograph and political-history item documenting private correspondence from Montagu Corry to Benjamin Disraeli, dating from the period when Corry was serving as Disraeli’s private secretary and Disraeli was Chancellor of the Exchequer, addressed to 11 Downing Street and retaining an intriguing maritime device on the reverse.
Auction 01: Auction 01 – Historical Letters, Documents & Autographs — Melis Antiques & Art